My take is that it's a continuation under a new name of of Labour's New Localism (aka double devolution), which included a much bigger voluntary involvement in delivering services. Probably without the pump-priming funding. But I could be completely wrong coz I can't actually bring myself to read anything emitting from Cameron. Whatever it is, it's doomed.

Ross - there was a lot about empowering local communities in the 2006 white Paper 'Strong and prosperous communities' (altho' not as much as some wanted), and a lot of effort was put into 'third sector' delivery. It will be interesting to see if the tories can push it further with less money...

From M Thatcher's time there was a history of Central govt not trusting localities to deliver; I suspect the Big society is a continuation of the slow swing back of the balance between central and local which begun under Labour.